Monthly Archives: January 2015

I love writing about eating gluten-free, but this will be my first post regarding beauty products, mostly because I think what we put on our outside is just as important as what we eat. You may be surprised to find that many of the everyday products we use on our bodies, contain gluten! First, if you are gluten-free, be sure to check labels, because they can be sneaky. If your body reacts badly to gluten inside, it is sure to dislike it on your skin. Also, while you are already reading labels, you may be surprised at the shear quantity of unrecognizable ingredients going into some of our popular everyday products. As part of my family’s transition into a healthier lifestyle, I had to take a hard look at what was in our kitchen and also in our bathroom.

Hopefully soon, I will start reviewing some of the products that I recommend, but about half of my everyday products have been swapped out with homemade alternatives. You’d be surprised at what a jar of coconut oil can do for you! One of the easiest products to make yourself is deodorant.

I am sure you have heard that antiperspirant made with aluminum is the subject of great debate. Some suggest that constant application of aluminum-based antiperspirant may be linked to cancer. This has been hotly debated, but I’d like to err on the side of caution and try to avoid it if possible. I tried a variety of “natural” deodorants without aluminum, but I was left dissatisfied. First, all of these store bought deodorants still contained a laundry list of ingredients, most of which I had to consult my chemist-husband just to identify. Secondly, they simply didn’t work. I would say I am in the average range of sweaty/smelliness compared to other women. After using these store bought deodorants, I felt wet and, kinda stinky. Finally, the cost can be substantial.

Deodorant Ingredients

I was starting to think I had a choice between being sweaty/smelly or cancer, until I found a recipe for homemade deodorant. If you do a quick Google search for homemade deodorant, they are all essentially the same – 2 parts coconut oil, to 1 part each of cornstarch and baking soda. This seemed too simple to actually work, but I figured it was worth a try since all of these ingredients are regularly stocked in my pantry. After a year of using homemade deodorant, I can firmly state that this stuff is super easy to make and it works!

Pre-mix

Deodorant on Fingertips

All you have to do is mix the ingredients in a bowl and it’s ready to go. I also highly recommend adding your favorite essential oil as a fragrance. I use about 10 drops of lavender essential oil, but you can add more or less depending on your preference. Here are a few more pointers:

I apply the deodorant with my fingers straight from the bowl, so I usually keep my deodorant in the bathroom so I can wash my hands after. I rub the deodorant with the fingertips of both hands and apply to my armpits, like I am applying lotion.

Coconut oil melts easily around room temperature, so the consistency may vary with the seasons. In the picture, my batch is softer than usual, since the coconut oil was melting a little from the heat of my fingers as I was posing to take the photo.

One batch lasts approximately 9 months.

I have heard that you can replace cornstarch with arrowroot powder if you are sensitive to corn, though I have not tried it.

The glass bowl I use is from The Container Store, but you can use whatever container you like. I like this one because it is glass, but has a plastic top to seal.

What could be easier? If you are looking to reduce the chemicals in your life with a simple, easy, cheap, alternative, this homemade deodorant is where it’s at. Please let me know what you think if you try it! Enjoy!

If you are trying to get healthy this year, I highly recommend smoothies as a part of your daily routine. They are a great, easy way to stay healthy and satisfied. Anyone who reads this blog knows I am big on smoothies and my kiddos and I regularly start our day with a smoothie. Not only are they fun, but the ingredient and flavor combinations are endless. Check out my “Guide to Building a Better Smoothie” to get my approach to ensure a nutritious and great tasting smoothie every time.

I typically only post a smoothie recipe, when I whip something up and get that “wow, this is new and delicious” surprise. This is one of those “wow” recipes. Again, here are my rules:

I like to use coconut milk from BPA-free cans (my brand of choice). Coconut milk sold in cartons, either on the shelf or in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, is full of additives, food stabilizers and preservatives. Additional shredded coconut just ups the coconut flavor.

Chocolate is also a nutrition powerhouse, but I’m talking about raw, unsweetened chocolate, also called “cacao”. Raw cacao is sold as “nibs” or raw cacao powder. You can also use unsweetened baking cocoa, which almost everyone has on-hand.

Finally, frozen bananas are awesome. I buy bananas every time I hit the grocery store. What we aren’t able to use in time, goes straight into the freezer. They are great in smoothies, but also nice to have if you are feeling like banana bread, but your bananas just aren’t ripe enough.

I’ve been meaning to write this post for some time, but I think it’s even more appropriate to use it to start off the New Year. Some much needed time off and time spent with family have inspired thoughts about eating mindfully, especially during this time of restarting and resolutions. It has been 2 years since my family has started our gluten-free journey. Two years ago, I discovered how gluten affected my son, but it also propelled my interest in nutrition and where our food comes from. Going gluten-free was a blessing beyond its impact on my son’s health. It also changed my mindset about food.

Prior to going gluten-free, I ate “pretty good” relative to what is the normal American diet. I regularly ate fruits and vegetables, I didn’t drink soda, I stayed away from fast/fried food, and I tried to eat a balanced diet. I also had some extra baby weight that would not budge, no matter how much I exercised or limited my calories. After going gluten-free, initially only to support my son, I felt great. I easily lost a few pounds without trying and I felt more energized and less bloated/foggy. This was the spark I needed to reevaluate what I was eating and why.

This journey has taught me many lessons, but one immensely important one is that everyone is different and everyone responds differently to food. That should be obvious if you are already interested in a gluten-free blog! However, it goes beyond gluten. I think we all have our own personal profiles regarding food. Whether you are interested in following a vegan, vegetarian, paleo, or grain-free lifestyle, what works for me will not necessarily work for you. However, what works for everyone is eating whole, unprocessed food. Nobody feels good eating processed, adulterated, chemical-ridden food.

I’m not sure why I feel compelled to share my diet with you. I guess I always find reading about what people eat to be fascinating. I think it is a very personal and almost intimate way to get to know somebody. I mean, we are talking about food!!! We eat or think about eating for a large part of the day. This is my personal blueprint of what works for my body now. This is subject to change and may evolve as time goes on as I learn more about food and more about my body.

I like to consider myself a veg-aleo. I fit in between a vegan and Paleo lifestyle. That sounds conflicting since one is mostly plant-based and the other is somewhat animal based, but this is why I like them both:

I can go without dairy. My body has a hard time tolerating most dairy products, so this was an easy food group to avoid. I do tend to do ok with butter and hard cheeses (usually unpasteurized cheese). I also have a hard time eating dairy from a personally ethical standpoint. After breastfeeding my two babies for 2 years, I have a whole new perspective on cow’s milk. For me, it is not a food that humans should consume. However, it is delicious, so I make exceptions on rare occasions or if the alternative is not as healthy (a good example is butter).

I need to eat a little meat during the day to feel good, but not much. I was never a big meat eater and going a day or several days without meat doesn’t bother me. However, I do feel better if I eat a serving of meat or seafood each day.

I love a variety of fruit and vegetables. They are never boring, raw and cooked.

I am ok with grain substitutes (nut flours, coconut flour, veggie noodles, etc.). Sometimes I just need bread, rice or spaghetti, but I feel better if I limit grains and substitute with healthy alternatives when possible.

I like beans and legumes, especially chickpeas and peanuts. These are a big “no no” on the Paleo diet, but I can’t live without them. I also enjoy soy products (miso, edamame, tofu) occasionally.

So here is how I break it down:

Fruits and Vegetables – Yes! As much as possible (Vegan/Paleo)

Nuts/Seeds/Coconut – Yes! Healthy fats (Vegan/Paleo)

Beans/Legumes – Yes! (Vegan)

Eggs – Yes! (Paleo)

Soy Products – Occasionally (Vegan)

Meat/Seafood – 1 Serving Daily (Paleo)

Grains – 1 Serving Daily (Vegan)

Dairy – Avoid (Vegan/Paleo)

In general I also avoid artificial sweeteners and processed vegetable oils (canola, safflower, etc.).

Finally, just for the record, I do cheat every once in a while. So, if you see me out to dinner with my husband on a Saturday night, with no kids, you may see me scarfing down a Crème brûlée. It will be so worth it…